Window washing and drying machine



Dec. 6, 1955 w. MEYEROFF 2,725,582

WINDOW WASHING AND DRYING MACHINE Filed July 18, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR ('5 WILLIAM MEYEROFF fish x BY AIIWHIVEV Dec. 6, 1955 w. MEYEROFF 2,725,582

WINDOW WASHING AND DRYING MACHINE Filed July 18, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR WILLIAM MEyERoI-F 8m: v AYI'JHVE'Y ea. 6, 1955 w. MEYEROFF 2,725,582

WINDOW WASHING AND DRYING MACHINE Filed July 18, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR WILLIAM MEYEROFF ec. 6, 1955 w. MEYEROFF 2,725,582

WINDOW WASHING AND DRYING MACHINE Filed July 18, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR WILLIAM MEYEROFF Dec. 6, 1955 w. MEYEROFF WINDOW WASHING AND DRYING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 18, 1952 INVENTOR WILLIAM MEYEROFF 7" AZWJISWE) Dec. 6, 1955 w. MEYEROFF 2,725,582

WINDOW WASHING AND DRYING MACHINE Filed July 18, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 I" l'" I 53 I W I l H {5 {7H 0 o o o o I o o o 1 I I I 5/ INVENTOR WILLIAM MEYEROFF WINDOW WASHING AND DRYING MACHINE William Meyerotf, Bronx, N. Y.

Application July 18, 1952, Serial No. 299,522

7 Claims. (Cl. 15-4) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in window washing machines.

One object of the invention is the provision of a readily portable window washing machine adapted to wash both sides of the windows.

Another object of the invention is the provision of novel means for automatically throwing into alternative operation, window washing and window drying means.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of means for adjusting the drying and washing means to compensate for a center frame piece in a Window.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part this disclosure: 7

Fig. l is a side view of the machine in position to clean the inside of a window which is conveniently shown in section.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the machine in the process of being moved to clean the outside of the window.

Fig. 3 is a side view similar to Fig. l but in position to clean the outside of the window.

Fig. 4 is a partially broken away front viewof the machine, that is, a view from the left in Fig. l. j

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail of a portion of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but showing theparts in an adjusted position.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view similar to the upper portion of Fig. 4 with certain parts in adjusted positions.

Fig. 8 is a plan sectional view of the machine.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view on line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view offmeansshown also in Fig. 7. i v Fig. 11 is an enlarged detail view of parts shown also in Fig. 4. I Fig. 12 is a sectional view on line. 12- 12 ofFig; 11.

13 is a sectional view'on'line l313 of Fig. 11. Referring'to Fig.' l, the machine of the-invention is mounted upon a cart 19 having a handle l1 and wheels 12. A support member 13 projects beyond the rear end of the cart in position to be seated on the sill 14 of a window 15. By means of a pin 16 a swinging sup-. port member 17 is pivoted to and supported on the first support member 13. The swinging member 17 is held in the normal position of Fig. l by pins 18 which are projected through suitable holes in both members 13 and 1?, and which are secured to the top of the cartby small chains 2%).

Referring also to Figs. 4, 6 and 8, a pair of laterally spaced vertical channels 21 are mounted atop the swinging support 17 near the front end-thereof. The channels are connected by a suitable cross bar 22. Slidably mounted in each channel 21 and extending downward into the cart 10 is a rack bar'23 which is engaged by a pinion 24, see particularly Figs. 1' and 5. One

United States Patent-O pinion is fixed on the shaft 25 of a crank 26 journalled in a. suitable bracket 27. Preferably there is a crank handle 26 secured to either end of said shaft for a I each with a longitudinal slot 34, see Figs. 1, 8, 9 and 10 through which extends a cross bar secured at either end to one of the racks 23. The cross bar 35 isthe supporting means for the window washing and drying means. Secured to the rear face of the cross bar 35 are a pair of brackets 36 which support an upper pivot rod 37 and a lower pivot rod 38, see Figs. 8 and 9. The side arms 40 of a U-shaped frame 41 are pivoted on the upper rod 37, and the side arms 42 of a second U-shaped frame 43 are pivoted on the lower rod 38. A spring 44 coiled about the rod 37 tensions the cross bar of frame 41 downward, such movement being limited by the engagement of the arms 40 with the upper ends of the slots 45 in cross bar 35, see Fig. 10, through which they extend. A spring 46 coiled about the lower rod 38 tensions the cross bar of frame 43 upward, this movement being limited by the engagement of the side arms 42 thereof in-the lower ends of the slots 39 in the cross bar 35 through. which they extend.

The cross bar of frame 41 has secured thereto as by welding, a .channel piece 47, see Figs. 8 and 9, in which are slidably mounted the backs 48 of a pair of squeegees 59. Set screws 49 project through the back of channel 47 to secure the squeegees in any desired laterally adjusted position. The cross bar of frame 43 has secured thereto a channel piece 51 similar to channel 47, and within which are slidably mounted the backs 52 of a pair of window cleaning brushes 53. Channel 51 is provided with set screws 54 which secure the brushes 53 in any desired laterally adjusted positions.

The'construction is such that the brushes 53 and the squeegees 50 can be positioned immediately adjacent one another for cleaning and drying ordinary windows, but can be spaced apart for windows having a vertical center frame piece or the like.

It is desired that as the brushes 53 and squeegees 50 move upward with the racks 23, only the brushes be in position to engagethe window 15 as shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 1,'and that on the down stroke both the brushes and the squeeqeesbe'positioned to engage the window; and it is further desired that at the end. of'said down stroke the brushes be dipped into a pan 55 filled with water as shown in Fig; 11. Thus the brush is supplied with water to clean the. window preparatory to each upstroke. The means to these ends will now be described.

Secured to each channel 21 near its lower end is a bracket 56, seejFigs. 1,4 and 6, which, as the cross bar 35. is lowered from its Fig. 6 to its Fig. 4 position, is engaged by the end of one of, the arms 42 associated with the brushes 53. Furtherdownward movement of said crossbar 35 causes the arms 42 to pivot about the rod 38 and dip the brushes 53.into .the water in pan 55 as shown in Fig. 1., As soon as the bar 35 begins to rise again the spring 46 swings the brushes 53 back to normal position.

Also secured to each channel 21 above the bracket 56 is a bracket 57 which extends into the path-of descent of one' of the arms 40 associated with the squeegees 50, see'Figs. 4, 6 and '10, The arms 40,.how'ever, are held in the upper endsof the slots 45in cross bar 35 and cannot be rocked by the brackets 57. Instead, said brackets are provided each with a rounded cam edge 58 which earns the associate arm 40 inwardly to permit the latter to move downward past the bracket. The under edge of each bracket 57 is provided with an ear 60 beneath which the arm 40 snaps in the lowermost position of the parts shown in Fig. 1. When the bar moves upward again the engagement of the arms beneath the car 60 causes said arms to pivot about the rod 37, moving the squeegees to the ineffective position shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 1.

In order to latch the squeegees in their ineffective position for the entire upward stroke each of the arms 40 is provided with a notch 61 in the upper edge thereof, said notch being so arranged as to extend vertically when the squeegees are in ineffective position. Pivoted at 63 on the cross bar 35 adjacent each arm 40 is a latch lever 62 of the first order which is drawn into engagement with said notch and across the slot 45, as shown in Figs. 11 and 13, by a spring 66.

The construction is such that when at the beginning of the upstroke the arms 40 rock about rod 37, the notches 61 are moved into alignment with the levers 62 and said levers snap into the notches. This, it will be seen, locks said arms in their rocked positions and maintains the squeegees ineffective for the remainder of the upstroke.

In order to trip the latches 62 at the end of the upstroke to permit the spring 44 to rock the squeegees into effective position for the following down stroke, each latch lever 62 is provided beyond its pivot with an ear 64, see Figs. 7, 10 and 11--13. To engage the ears 64 and trip said latches, a pair of trip members 65 are secured to the fixed cross bar 22 at the upper end of the channels 21. As the cross bar 35 moves upward the ears 64 engage the trips a short distance below the apex of the upstroke, as shown in Figs. 7 and 11, so that at the apex of the stroke said trip has swung the latch 62 clear of the notch 61 as shown in Fig. 7. As soon as the trip is accomplished the spring 44 moves the squeegee to the effective position of Fig. 9 and the parts are conditioned for the following down stroke.

It will be seen, therefore, that on the upstroke the brushes 53 transfer water from the pan to the window and on the down stroke the brushes remove part of said water and the squeegees 50 remove the remainder of it.

The machine is utilized to clean the inside of a window as shown in Fig. 1, that is, the cart 10 is rolled into position for the fixed support 13 to rest on the window sill 14. However, to clean the outside of a window the channels 21 and their appurtenances must be located on the outer side of the window. It is for this purpose that the swinging support 17 is provided.

The first step in setting the machine to clean the outside of a window is to remove the detent pin 18 to allow swinging movement of support 17. The rack bars 23 then are raised to their highest positions and the said support is swung to its rearmost position. Next, the cart 10 is tilted, as shown in Fig. 2, and the channels 21 and their appurtenances moved through the open window space.

Finally, the cart is righted with the cleaning apparatus on the outside of the window which is moved down into position to be cleaned as shown in Fig. 3. It is to be noted that by having a crank on either end of the shaft 25, the machine is readily operated from inside of the window the same as described above with reference to cleaning the inside of the window.

It is to be mentioned that the cranks 26 preferably are provided with a pivotal connection 67 with the shaft 25 to permit their being turned aside to minimize their bulk when not in use. The shaft 25 may also be provided with a radial projection 25 which may be engaged into a complementary groove 27 formed in the extremity of the bracket 27 by pulling on the crank 26 in order to lock themotion of the brush 53 on any desired height. It

should be noted that pinion 24 and sprockets 32 are fixed on shaft 25. With this arrangement it may be possible to lower the brush by means of the crank 26, stifliciently to wet the same and then by raising the brush or the squeegee to any desired height the windows may be moved up and down for cleaning the same by the locked and stationary brush or squeegee.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that i do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A portable window washing machine which comprises a cart, a pair of vertical rack bars mounted on said cart and movable up and down in unison, a cross bar connecting said rack bars, a pair of U-shaped frames pivotally secured in upper and lower relation on said crossbar, a spring to force the cross bar of the upper frame downwardly, a spring to force the cross bar of the other frame upwardly, abutment stop means to limit movement of the U-shaped frames, squeegee means adjustably secured to the cross bar of said upper frame, brush means secured to the cross bar of the lower frame, a water pan located atop said cart, means to engage the side arms of said lower frame to rock the frame and move said brush means downward into said pan of water as the rack bars move to their lowest position, means to engage the side arms of said upper frame to rock the frame and move the squeegee means upward to an ineffective position as the rack bars move upward from their lowest position, means to latch said squeegee means in ineffective position, and means to trip said latch means when the rack bars reach their highest position.

2. A portable window washing machine which comprises a cart, a pair of vertical rack bars mounted on said cart and movable up and down in unison, a cross bar connecting said rack bars, a pair of U-shaped frames pivotally secured in upper and lower relation on said cross bar, a spring to force the cross bar of the upper frame downwardly, a spring to force the cross bar of the other frame upwardly, abutment stop means to limit movement of the U-shaped frames, squeegee means adjustably secured to the cross bar of said upper frame, said means comprising a channel piece secured to the frame cross bar, a pair of squeegees each having a back slidably mounted in said channel, and a plurality of set screws threaded through said channel and engaging the said backs to secure the squeegees in adjusted positions, brush means secured to the cross bar of the lower frame, a water pan located atop said cart, means to engage the side arms of said lower frame to rock the frame and move said brush means downward into said pan of water as the rack bars move to their lowest position, means to engage the side arms of said upper frame, to rock the frame and move the squeegee means upward to an ineffective position as the rack bars move upward from their lowest position, means to latch said squeegee means in ineffective position, and means to trip said latch means when the rack bars reach their highest position.

3. A portable window washing machine which comprises a cart, 21 pair of vertical rack bars mounted on said cart and movable up and down in unison, a cross bar connecting said rack bars, a pair of U-shaped frames pivotally secured in upper and lower relation on said cross bar, a spring to force the cross bar of the upper frame downwardly, a spring to force the cross bar of the other frame upwardly, abutment stop means to limit movement of the U-shaped frames, squeegee means adjustably secured to the cross bar of said upper frame, said means comprising a channel piece secured to the frame cross bar, a pair of squeegees each having a back slidably mounted in saidchannel, and a plurality of set screws threaded through said channel and engaging the said backs to secure the squeegees in adjusted positions, brush means secured to the cross bar of the lower frame including a channel piece secured to the frame cross bar, a plurality of brushes each having a back slidably mounted in said channel, and a plurality of set screws threaded through said channel and engaging the said backs to secure the brushes in adjusted positions, a'water pan located atop said cart, means to engage the side arms of said lower frame to rock the frame and move said brush means downward into said pan of water as the rack bars move to their lowest position, means to engage the side arms of said upper frame to rock the frame and move the squeegee means upward to an ineffective position as the rack bars move upward from their lowest position, means to latch said squeegee means in ineffective position, and means to trip said latch means when the rack bars reach their highest position.

4. A portable window washing machine which comprises a cart, a pair of vertical rack bars mounted on said cart and movable up and down in unison, a cross bar connecting said rack bars, a pair of U-shaped frames pivotally secured in upper and lower relation on said cross bar, a spring to force the cross bar of the upper frame downwardly, a spring to force the cross bar of the other frame upwardly, abutment stop means to limit movement of the U-shaped frames, squeegee means adjustably secured to the cross bar of said upper frame, said means comprising a channel piece secured to the frame cross bar, a pair of squeegees each having a back slidably mounted in said channel, and a plurality of set screws threaded through said channel and engaging the said backs to secure the squeegees in adjusted positions, brush means secured to the cross bar of the lower frame including a channel piece secured to the frame cross bar, a plurality of brushes each having a back slidably mounted in said channel, and a plurality of set screws threaded through said channel and engaging the said backs to secure the brushes in adjusted positions, a water pan located atop said cart, means to engage the side arms of said lower frame to rock the frame and move said brush means downward into said pan of water as the rack bars move to their lowest position comprising a pair of fixed brackets located in the path of downward movement of said side arms, means to engage the side arms of said upper frame to rock the frame and move the squeegee means upward to an ineffective position as the rack bars move upward from their lowest position, means to latch said squeegee means in ineffective position, and means to trip said latch means when the rack bars reach their highest position.

5. A portable window washing machine which comprises a cart, a pair of vertical rack bars mounted on said cart and movable up and down in unison, a cross bar connecting said rack bars, a pair of U-shapcd frames pivotally secured in upper and lower relation on said cross bar, a spring to force the cross bar of the upper frame downwardly, a spring to force the cross bar of the other frame upwardly, abutment stop means to limit movement of the U-shaped frames, squeegee means adjustably secured to the cross bar of said upper frame, said means comprising a channel piece secured to the frame cross bar, a pair of squeegees each having a back slidably mounted in said channel, and a plurality of set screws threaded through said channel and engaging the said backs to secure the squeegees in adjusted positions, brush means secured to the cross bar of the lower frame including a channel piece secured to the frame cross bar, a plurality of brushes each having a back slidably mounted in said channel, and a plurality of set screws threaded through said channel and engaging the said backs to secure the brushes in adjusted positions, a water pan located atop said cart, means to engage the side arms of said lower frame to rock the frame and move said brush means downward into said pan of water as the rack bars move to their lowest position comprising a pair of fixed brackets located in the path of downward movement of movement of a said side arm, a cam edge on each bracket to cam aside the associated side arm and allow the latter to pass thereby in a downward direction, and an car on the under side of each said bracket beneath which the side arm snaps in the lowest position of the rack bars and which rocks said side arm as the rack bars move upward, meansto latch said squeegee means in ineffective positions, and means to trip said latch means when the rack bars reach their highest position.

'6. A portable window washing machine which comprises a cart, a pair of vertical rack bars mounted on said cart and movable up and down in unison, a cross bar connecting said rack bars, a pair of U-shaped frames pivotally secured in upper and lower relation on said cross bar, a spring to force the cross bar of the upper frame downwardly, a spring to force the cross bar of the otherframe upwardly, abutment stop means to limit movement of the U-shaped frames, squeegee means adjustably secured to the cross bar of said upper frame, said means comprising a channel piece secured to the frame cross bar, a pair of squeegees each having a back slidably mounted in said channel, and a plurality of set screws threaded through said channel and engaging the said backs to secure the squeegees in adjusted positions, brush means secured to the cross bar of the lower frame including a channel piece secured to the frame cross bar, a plurality of brushes each having a back slidably mounted in said channel, and a plurality of set screws threaded through said channel and engaging the said backs to secure the brushes in adjusted positions, a water pan located atop said cart, means to engage the side arms of said lower frame to rock the frame and move said brush means downward into said pan of water as the rack bars move to their lowest position comprising a pair of fixed brackets located in the path of downward movement of said side arms, means to engage the side arms of said upper frame to rock the frame and move the squeegee means upward to an ineffective position as the rack bars move upward from their lowest position, including a pair of fixed brackets each in the path of downward movement of a said side arm, a cam edge on each bracket to cam aside the associated side arm and allow the latter to pass thereby in a downward direction, and an ear on the under side of each said bracket beneath which the side arm snaps in the lowest position of the rack bars and which rocks said side arm as the rack bars move upward, means to latch said squeegee means in ineffective position, including a notch in the upper edge of each side arm of the upper frame so arranged as to be vertical in the inefiective position of the squeegee, a pair of latch levers pivoted on the rack connecting cross bar, and a spring to rock each said lever into engagement with the appropriate said notch, and means to trip said latch means when the rack bars reach their highest position.

7. A portable window washing machine which comprises a cart, a pair of vertical rack bars mounted on siad cart and movable up and down in unison, a cross bar connecting said rack bars, a pair of U-shaped frames pivotally secured in upper and lower relation on said cross bar, a spring to force the cross bar of the upper frame downwardly, a spring to force the cross bar of the other frame upwardly, abutment stop means to limit movement of the U-shaped frames, squeegee means adjustably secured to the cross bar of said upper frame, said means comprising a channel piece secured to the frame cross bar, a pair of squeegees each having a back slidably, mounted in said channel, and a plurality of set screws threaded through said channel and engaging the said backs to secure the squeegees in adjusted positions, brush means secured to the cross bar of the lower frame including a channel piece secured to the frame cross bar. a plurality of brushes each having a back slidably mounted in said channel, and a plurality of set screws threaded through said channel and engaging the said backs to secure the brushes in adjusted positions, a water pan located atop said cart, means to engage the side arms of said lower frame to rock the frame and move said brush means downward into said pan of water as the rack bars move to their lowest position comprising a pair of fixed brackets located in the path of downward movement of said side arms, means to engage the side arms of said upper frame to rock the frame and move the squeegee means upward to an ineffective position as the rack bars move upward from their lowest position, including a pair of fixed brackets each in the path of downward movement of a said side arm, a cam edge on each bracket to cam aside the associated side arm and allow the latter to pass thereby in a downward direction, and an ear on the under side of each said bracket beneath which the side arm snaps in the lowest position of the rack bars and which rocks said side arm as the rack bars move upward, means to latch said squeegee means in ineffective position, including a notch in the upper edge of each side arm of the upper frame so arranged as to be vertical in the ineffective position of the squeegee, a pair of latch levers pivoted on the rack connecting cross bar, and a spring to rock each said lever into engagement with the appropriate said notch, and means to trip said latch means when the rack bars reach their highest position, including an car on each said latch lever on the opposite side of its pivot from the frame side arm, a fixed cross bar, and a pair of trip members mounted on said fixed cross bar to engage said ears and rock said latch levers free of said notches when the rack bars reach their 1 highest position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,286,076 Olsiewsky Nov. 26, 1918 1,295,516 Kato Feb. 25, 1919 1,474,840 Martin Nov. 20, 1923 1,922,078 Curry Aug. 15, 1933 2,435,862 Wilson Feb. 10, 1948 

